(From left) Professors Taewhan Kim, Hyungbo Shim, and Jerald Yoo of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Seoul National University

On January 28, Seoul National University’s College of Engineering announced that Professors Taewhan Kim, Hyungbo Shim, and Jerald Yoo of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering have been selected as Fellows of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest professional association in electrical and electronics engineering.

Headquartered in New York, United States, IEEE has more than 400,000 members across over 160 countries and plays a leading role in developing international standards and advancing academic research in the field of electrical and electronic engineering.

Among members of IEEE, the IEEE Fellow grade is the highest level awarded only to individuals within the top 0.1% of the organization’s total membership who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments and technological achievements. Candidates must first be nominated by existing IEEE Fellows and then pass a rigorous evaluation by the selection committee.

Prof. Taewhan Kim was elected as an IEEE Fellow for his contributions to dynamic voltage scaling theory and automated standard-cell generation. His research established a computational framework that determines the optimal voltage level in real time according to changing performance requirements inside semiconductor circuits, enabling chips to operate with minimal power consumption. In addition, his work provided the theoretical foundation for power-management algorithms widely used in low-power semiconductor chip design.

Prof. Kim commented, “It was not easy to foresee the future impact of the research I was conducting at the time. I am pleased that the work I pursued with curiosity and passion 20 years ago has now become a foundation for the next generation of researchers and has also contributed to semiconductor chip design in industry.”

Prof. Hyungbo Shim was elected an IEEE Fellow for his contributions to control theory for multi-agent systems and disturbance observers. Prof. Shim has conducted extensive research on control methodologies that enable multiple robots to cooperate in a coordinated manner, as well as on disturbance observer technologies that accurately estimate and compensate for unpredictable external disturbances in dynamic systems. These techniques are crucial for ensuring the stability and synchronization of complex robotic systems, such as humanoid group dance performances and large-scale drone light shows.

Regarding the recognition, Professor Shim said, “Control theory sometimes receives great attention and at other times less interest, but it is a fundamental discipline that forms the foundation of engineering and will never disappear. It was not easy to continue working in this field during periods when it was less popular, but I am pleased that this recognition feels like a reward for those efforts. I am also deeply grateful to my students who worked alongside me and shared that journey.”

Prof. Jerald Yoo was elected an IEEE Fellow in recognition of his contributions to semiconductor circuit design for biomedical and body-area networks. Prof. Yoo is a leading researcher who has pioneered ultra-miniaturized circuits for healthcare devices that are worn on or implanted in the human body, as well as body-area network technologies that enable communication and power delivery within the human body. His work has significantly contributed to performance innovations in next-generation wearable and digital healthcare devices.

Prof. Yoo stated, “Compared to many senior professors, I feel humbled to receive such recognition at a relatively early stage of my career. In the rapidly evolving fields of semiconductors and healthcare, I will continue striving to develop innovative semiconductor circuits that improve human health and quality of life without becoming complacent.”

Source: https://biz.chosun.com/science-chosun/science/2026/01/28/KYMPGRNSCJGXROJO4MD5O2JW2Q/

Translated by: Changhoon Kang, English Editor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, changhoon27@snu.ac.kr